Airmen assigned to the 92nd and the 141st Air Refueling Wings conducted exercise Titan Fury 24-1 at Fairchild Air Force Base, Nov. 13-17.
During the exercise, Airmen demonstrated how various support activities contribute to mobilizing KC-135 Stratotankers at a moment's notice if called upon to support strategic deterrence and other National Defense Strategy priorities.
"It's critically important that Fairchild Air Force Base conducts exercises like this for one reason only, and that's deterrence," said Lt. Col. William Dowd, 97th Air Refueling Squadron commander. "We have to send a clear message to our adversaries and allies alike that Fairchild Air Force Base stands ready to execute this mission. Without making sure our crews are ready and able-regardless of how hard it is and how fast we need them to be-we can't ensure the delivery of deterrence worldwide."
For decades, the KC-135 has been the backbone of Air Mobility Command's air refueling capabilities around the world because of its ability to extend global reach and project U.S. airpower.
Dowd explained how teamwork and collaboration are the keys to Fairchild AFB's ability to keep this proud tradition going strong.
"The teamwork that goes into executing a mission of this scale really boils down to the relationship between operations and maintenance, then everything else has to come up and build the support pyramid for those two," he said. "It is a challenging week for everybody, from maintenance and operations to the defenders in security forces who protect the ramp and aircraft and the folks in the Force Support Squadron who are turning out meals for them and bringing food to the crews at the jet."
Dowd also praised the hard work and long hours of airfield managers, fuel operations, safety, inspector general and the other essential functions of the exercise that enable mission readiness.
"We could tell they were getting tired, but there was a gleam in their eyes, and we knew they were ready to show the world that Fairchild is ready to execute this mission," he said. "The 92nd ARW, along with our Guard partners, the 141st ARW, conduct these exercises to ensure we are always prepared because there isn't an aircraft in our fleet that can kick ass without tanker gas."
In addition to the 92nd ARW active duty and 141st ARW Air National Guard units at Fairchild AFB, TF-24-1 included aircraft and personnel assigned to the 912th Air Refueling Squadron who traveled from March AFB
